Physiotherapy is a health care profession concerned with maximising the potential of human function and movement. It uses physical approaches to promote, maintain, and restore physical, psychological and social wellbeing, taking account of the variations in health status. At Essex this is a science-based subject in which we are committed to applying, evaluating and reviewing the evidence that underpins and informs practice.

At the core of physiotherapy practice is the making of clinical judgement and informed interpretation of clinical information. Physiotherapists are autonomous professionals, able to act as first-contact practitioners, as well as accepting referrals from other health care professionals. Through partnership and negotiation, physiotherapists work with people to optimise their functional ability and potential.

Our School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences is a community specifically focused on sports and exercise science, sports therapy and physiotherapy. The school is based in our Essex Sport Arena and brings together internationally recognised research, knowledge and placement and vocational opportunities for our students and graduates.

The cost of required uniform will be fully covered by the school.

Placement Opportunities

You will be introduced to physiotherapy through observing and working with physiotherapists practising in a variety of settings (primary and secondary care, public and private sectors, adult and the elderly, acute care setting and specialist mental health/learning disability services), and adopt a critical stand in the discussion of contemporary physiotherapy practice in the context of the environment of practice.

You are also introduced to key concepts in physiotherapy for the assessment and evaluation of patients, and given opportunities to explore scientific measures as indicators for health and illness.

Over a thousand hours will be spent in the practice environment where students apply the theory and practice of physiotherapy. You develop your abilities to critically analyse clinical data and evidence, to make judgments and to respond to patients who require physiotherapy.

We organise these practice placements for you to work in role with multi-professional health care teams in a wide range of settings.

Whilst on placement you will have an educator allocated to you and contact with a member of the academic team who will visit you and support you whilst on placement. Placements encompass a variety of multi-disciplinary health and social settings based within the NHS, the Private Sector, the Voluntary Sector and other Primary Health Care Services.

Placements are primarily based throughout Essex but you may also have the opportunity to experience services in Hertfordshire, Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire.

Professional accreditation

Accredited by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP).Approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) for the purpose of providing eligibility to apply for registration with the HCPC as a physiotherapist.

Why we're great.

We have been delivering Physiotherapy degrees in Colchester since 1998.

You gain hands-on experience in a range of professional settings through practice placements.

Our close links with clinicians in practice will strengthen your career prospects.

Our expert staff

A unique feature of our School is that most of our staff work or have worked within clinical practice. This enhances our grasp of the contemporary links between academic research, the major issues of the day and real-life practice.

Physiotherapy is taught by a small and friendly team of registered experienced staff with a variety of different backgrounds and research interests. The subject lead is Jackie Clarke, who also leads the BSc (Hons) course. Jackie graduates from the University of East Anglia in Physiotherapy in 1999 and worked for the NHS in East Anglia for 5 years. In January 2005 she brought her enthusiasm for the clinical education of Physiotherapy students into the academic setting at Colchester Institute, followed by a move to the University of Essex in 2009. Jackie's clinical specialist area is that of Respiratory Care, with experience both in community and acute settings, particularly in the area of Cystic Fibrosis Care.

We also have expertise in the areas of prehabilitation, rehabilitation following sports injuries, first contact trauma management and education in pain management. Full details of our staff can be found on the SRES Staff Profiles.

In addition, our physiotherapy team invite a large number of practising clinicians to contribute to the teaching on this programme.

Specialist facilities

Within our School of Sport, Rehabilitation Exercise Sciences, we have a range of specialist clinical laboratories and IT facilities to assist you with the effective learning and acquisition of new skills; for students of our BSc Physiotherapy, we have three specialist labs on our Colchester Campus which provides you with all the facilities you need to train as a physiotherapist.

We also offer excellent physical and online resources in terms of libraries, computer labs, datasets, archives and other research materials.

You can take advantage of our links with the Institute of Social and Economic Research, which conducts large-scale survey projects, many for government, EU and other public agencies, and has its own library.

The UK Data Archive is also based at our Colchester Campus and stores national research data.

Your future

Successful completion of our BSc Physiotherapy leads to eligibility to apply for registration as a physiotherapist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP), which allows you to practise as a physiotherapist in the UK.

“My last placement at a Cardiothoracics ITU in Essex was an incredible experience. I learnt so much and it was so interesting I can’t tell you how much! The team were the best I’ve ever been with, and any other students are so lucky to be placed there, it was hands down the best placement I’ve had. I felt sad to leave.”

Lizzie Markham, BSc Physiotherapy student

Entry requirements

Clearing entry requirements

Specific entry requirements for this course in Clearing are not published here but for most of our degree courses you will need to hold a Level 3 qualification. If you are interested in applying and have already received your results, use our Clearing application form to apply for 2019 entry and find out if you are eligible. You will be asked to provide details of your qualifications and grades.

English language requirements

English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English: IELTS 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in each component (or equivalent).

Other English language qualifications may be acceptable so please contact us for further details. If we accept the English component of an international qualification then it will be included in the information given about the academic levels listed above. Please note that date restrictions may apply to some English language qualifications

If you are an international student requiring a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK please see our immigration webpages for the latest Home Office guidance on English language qualifications.

If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.

Structure

Example structure

These carefully selected modules will give you the chance to explore, question, and create powerful ideas. Picked to give you an extensive and in-depth education, they’ll equip you with the specialist knowledge, vital transferrable skills, and the confidence to make a genuine difference to the world around you.

For many of our courses you’ll have a wide range of optional modules to choose from – those listed in this example structure are just a selection of those available. The opportunity to take optional modules will depend on the number of core modules within any year of the course. In many instances, the flexibility to take optional modules increases as you progress through the course.

Our Programme Specification gives more detail about the structure available to our current first-year students, including details of all optional modules.

The aim of the module is to introduce the concepts of professional and inter-professional practice and provide opportunities to develop understanding of the role of continuing professional development for health professionals.

Human Anatomy knowledge is a fundamental element of Physiotherapy Practice. This module has been designed to allow you to gain experience through both theory and practical exploration of the anatomy of the human body with direct relevance to physiotherapy practice before going on to cover appendicular and axial anatomy.

In this module you will be introduced to core concepts in musculoskeletal physiotherapy. You will focus on developing the knowledge, skills, beliefs and values of professional physiotherapists in clinical practice. Building on modules from your first year of study, you‘ll be introduced to new practical skills and concepts such as, explaining pain, completing a neuromusculoskeletal clinical assessment and clinical reasoning.

Delivered alongside Anatomy for Physiotherapy Practice and Core Physiotherapy Skills, this module explores common pathophysiological disorders associated with the musculoskeletal, neurological, circulatory and respiratory systems. The physiological concepts that are of direct relevance to physiotherapists, such as pain and exercise physiology will also be examined and these will link across to your concurrent modules

The aim of this module is to introduce you to the core skills and principles that underline the practice of physiotherapy. You will explore a range of assessment strategies and treatment options including exercise, manual therapy techniques such as massage and passive movement and electrotherapy.

Drawing on your own experiences from earlier modules, you will explore the complexities of rehabilitation using problem-based learning. As well as considering the physical, behavioural and functional issues associated with difficult cases such as critical care patients, or those with multi-faceted neurological disorders, you will look at the ethical, legal and professional issues that must be taken into account.

Building on your knowledge of the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems gained in earlier modules, you will explore the role of physiotherapy in the management of patients from different age groups and populations, with medical and surgical conditions, in acute and non-acute settings. You will develop your skills in the assessment, clinical reasoning and treatment for this group of patients and consider the impact of psychosocial and diversity issues on their rehabilitation.

Through this placement, you will have the opportunity to link the theoretical knowledge you are acquiring with practical experience in a clinical setting. You will gain an understanding of the health care environment and start to develop the hands-on skills physiotherapy assessment and patient management skills required for competent practice.

What are the issues faced by physiotherapists in musculoskeletal rehabilitation? Using an issue-based learning approach, you will explore this complex area, considering not just the physical, behavioural and functional issues in such cases, but also the ethical, legal and professional factors.

What are the key issues that underpin professional practice? How do changes within physiotherapy and healthcare structures impact on the profession? You will develop your understanding of the contexts in which practice takes place by considering it in relation to government policy, legislation and the changing needs of society. Legal and ethical issues of healthcare, the perspective of the service user and the changing roles in physiotherapy will also be studied.

This second placement offers you the opportunity to build on your learning and earlier placement experience and consolidate your knowledge and skills. This practice-based learning module will enable you to develop your understanding of and competence in physiotherapy skills and your clinical reasoning and reflective skills.

Building on the knowledge and experience gained on earlier placements, during this practice-based learning, you will further develop your understanding of and competence in physiotherapy skills, clinical reasoning and reflective skills.

In this module, you will continue to progress your generic and physiotherapy-specific skills, building on your practical experiences from earlier levels of study. This module is designed to enable you to further expand your ability to practice effectively and independently within the practice-based setting and to consolidate your learning by experiencing more complex patient problems. The module will prepare you to take up the role of independent and autonomous practitioners. This will be your final clinical placement module.

What are the issues faced by physiotherapists in multifaceted cases of rehabilitation? Using a problem-based learning approach, you will explore this complex area, considering not just the physical, behavioural and functional issues associated with a range of rehabilitation issues, but also the ethical, legal and professional concerns that arise in such circumstances.

Continue to develop your generic and physiotherapy-specific skills, building on your practical experiences in previous practice placements. You are enabled to further develop your ability to practice effectively and with some independence within the practice-based setting, and to consolidate your learning by experiencing more complex patient problems. You therefore are prepared to take up a role as an independent and autonomous practitioner.

This module will allow you to manage increasingly larger caseloads and more complex patient problems with minimal supervision. You will be required to justify your clinical reasoning and associated decision-making, using reflection and relevant evidence. There will also be a focus on autonomy in practice, demonstration of ability, and willingness to continue your professional development after qualification.

Incorporating your final clinical placement, the aim of this module is to prepare you for your role as an autonomous practitioner. You will build on the skills and experience gained in earlier placements to enhance and broaden your professional competence and will also have the opportunity to focus on an area of practice of your choice.

Teaching

We employ a variety of teaching methods including problem-based learning, technology-enhanced learning, and experiential learning

The use of peer support and self-directed learning enables you to take control of the learning experience

You undertake placements in six different clinical settings

Assessment

You are assessed by a combination of practical examinations, viva voce examinations, essays, reflective writing and poster and seminar presentations, practice-based learning assessment and practical examinations in the academic setting

Fees and funding

Home/EU fee

£9,250

The Learning Support Fund is available for healthcare students starting their course on or after 1 August 2017. Please see the NHS BSA for more info.

2019 Open Days (Colchester Campus)

How to apply during Clearing

Once you’ve checked that we have the right course for you, applying couldn’t be simpler. Fill in our quick and easy Clearing application form with as much detail as you can. We’ll then take a look and get back to you with a decision. There’s no need to call us to apply; just do it all online.

Interviews

We don’t interview all applicants during Clearing, however, we will only make offers for the following course after a successful interview:

BA Multimedia Journalism

BSc Nursing (Adult)

BSc Nursing (Mental Health)

BA Social Work

The interview allows our academics to find out more about you, and in turn you’ll be able to ask us any questions you might have.
Further details will be emailed to you if you are shortlisted for interview.

Visit Colchester Campus

Home to over 13,000 students from more than 130 countries, our Colchester Campus is the largest of our three sites, making us one of the most internationally diverse campuses on the planet - we like to think of ourselves as the world in one place.

Virtual tours

If you live too far away to come to Essex (or have a busy lifestyle), no problem. Our 360 degree virtual tours allows you to explore our University from the comfort of your home. Check out our Colchester virtual tour and Southend virtual tour to see accommodation options, facilities and social spaces.

Exhibitions

Our staff travel the world to speak to people about the courses on offer at Essex. Take a look at our list of exhibition dates to see if we’ll be near you in the future.

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